06/16/1998 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 6/16/98 ,~ June 2 meeting--Mr. Bohlmann said that an engineering problem was discovered to be ~,., taking too much land and trees from a Lansing property and this was being corrected. Bids have still not gone out. How many of you know that the legislation you passed on March 3 still has not been carried out? We agree 100% that having this project done correctly is more important than speed, but efficiency has to come into play somewhere. Is Phase II of this project even a reality with a price tag of over $1 million? We were warned about this level of cost with the first mention of underground retention. When bringing this to Mr. Bohlmann's attention, he said it was what they did on Clague Road and he had the money for the project. Mr. Bohlmann said he did not believe in above-ground retention. At this point, we are extremely frustrated. We were hopeful in the spring of 1997--plans were being made, dates set. But over a year later, nothing. • Over these three years, not one phone call has been made by city officials about the status of our project unless we posed a question or called a meeting. • Legislation has been passed (March 1998) but as yet no bids have gone out, therefore, no digging has started, therefore, no solution to the flooding problem. • Some members of Council have personally supported our efforts. However, apparently, no action has been taken by these City Councilpersons to follow through on legislation passed. Again we must ask, `Where is the accountability?' While the excuses continue and the deadlines continue to pass, what will you say to the 57 families when we stand before you after we are flooded again? Will it be, `We'll have something by the end of the year?' What year? • Mr. Musial's slogan is `Together We Can Make A Difference.' We are desperately trying to make a difference. But we need the other half of `Together'--the Mayor and the city--to do its part. • You have a community of people willing to pitch in and help solve their own problems. This is a good thing. Maybe the next time members of Council could look more deeply into the bids being accepted. I firmly believe that one phone call by Council members to an engineer or expert in the field during the review of the bids would have led you in a different direction. It does not matter who comes up with the solution, as long as it is reliable and cost effective. Maybe that phone call can be made now. Finally, we've been open, honest, involved in the solution to this flooding problem and patient. We have not wanted to cause any disturbance for fear it would only lead to further delays. Please tell us: 1. After three years of acting in good faith, where do we go for direction? 2. Who do we go to for definite answers--the Mayor? Members of Council? 3. Will it take going to the media to force accountability? 4. What timetable can you give us that will be enforced? 5. Will phone calls be made to experts to make sure we are going in the right direction? 6. Is the funding still available? w;, 9 ice. :. .. .. .,+:.ppw,.-i~'1Kfe6'.ek~^n.n.=i. ~K~.~e. a..-.. -~.. .. .... - .: .. ~ .. .. ...